Preventative foot care is essential for people who live with diabetes. Perhaps the most important part of this preventative care is the shoes you wear. While the rest of us may suffer through a night in six-inch heels, or force our feet into uncomfortable hiking boots, diabetics should not put up with foot pain, no matter how minor it seems at the time. Calluses, corns, blisters, scrapes or other minor foot injuries can all lead to serious foot infections or foot ulcers.

Several brands have developed shoes particularly designed for diabetics. These shoes tend to provide the foot with considerable padding and a high-density sole designed to absorb shock. Diabetic shoes should give you a "soft fit" – the fabric of the shoe should be smooth against your foot without seams or other features that could lead to blisters or hot spots. Many of them are designed to accommodate removable inserts, or are fastened with Velcro so that you can easily adjust the shoe’s size.

The upside is that diabetic shoes should be incredibly comfortable! The downside is that they may not be as stylish as you would like. (I don’t know about you, but I’d say Velcro shoes went out of style somewhere around the 5th grade.) They are not exactly the kind of shoes you want to put on when getting ready for a big night out.

Luckily several well-respected brands of diabetic shoes have developed diabetic dress shoes that will protect your feet and look good while doing it. Check out the "Trinket", designed by PW Minor. This dress shoe provides extra depth in the toe region and also has an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial brushed knit that lines the toe box. Or look for the "Angie" from Drew Shoes, which has a removable insole and a steel shank that provides first-rate support. Instead of Velcro, this shoe closes with a subtle black zipper on the side. But like Velcro, the zipper can be adjusted to accommodate the swelling of the feet.

For men, try the "Comfort Street" produced by Acor. This good-looking shoe is made from a stretchable material that changes shape and size with your foot. It is lined with a fiber called X-Static®, which contains a layer of silver (an effective anti-microbial element). Another good option for men is PW Minor’s dress shoe known as "Sir". This shoe has an extra deep toe box and is made from soft leather that requires no time to break-in. The ¾ inch wedge heel promotes stability, and the shoe comes with a removable insole that allows you to adjust the shoe’s size.